Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-03-28

the couch, and made comfortable WIN
pillows aud covers, which Laura
brought over for him.
The doctor worked with him anxious
ly till he opened his eyes and betrayed
signs of consciousness.
You must not speak, said tac
doctor warningly. Lie perfectly still
and put your hand ON the place where
the pain is. All, is it there? Not here?
Are you sure there is 10 pain here?
Good"
He made a careful estimate of the ex-
tent of the injury, and then called Lau-
ra aside.
1T is not so bad as feared,n he
said confidentially; ''but he must not
be moved on any account. Every
thing depends on his being kept quiet.
And vet" he added doubtfuily, II
don't see how we can manage here. "
81 will take care of him, doctor,
Laura said quickly, IF that is what
YOU mean"
Laura, my dear" interposed Mrs.
Grafton.
"Well, mamma, we can't leave him
here to diet"
"He, must have friends somewhere
They ought to be sent for"
Il happen to know, madame" OBJ
served the doctor, "that he is quite
alone. He is a foreigner-an Italian, /
believe. They call him Stefano.'
81 will stay with him." Laura rciter-
ated.
And stay she did, though Mrs. Graf
ton was scandalized by her uncalled-
for devotion.
As the man began to recover she
made him all manner of dainties, which
were set forth on tempting china.
When she found that he cared to
read she secured the library for books
that would please him, but failed to
find what he liked, until one day he
asked for Petrarch, and Dante, and
Ariosto.
What are you thinking, signori-
nap" he asked one day. as she sat with
one of the great poets in her hand, af-
ter an hours reading.
II was wondering" she said hest
tatingly, ''why you ever chose to be a
marble-cutter? | should have thought
some other trade would have suited
you better =
How. signorina?' he asked with a
peculiar smile.
There is not much scope in tomb
stones for poetry or love of the beau
tiful What are you laughing at?"
she demanded, as he INDUCED himself
in merr, outburst.
Il was laughing at the idea,' he
said, striving to regain his gravity.
Eyes, it is mean business, cutting
tombstones."
''And l don't suppose it pays very
well?" sad Laura, doubtfully.
"No, not very well. When one is
sick and can't cut tombstones, he
might as well give up and get one of
his own"
This was uttered with such sudden
accession of gloom, that Laura hasten
cd to say:
Don't get respondent, Stefano. You
you are well. My mother wants a
tombstone for my grandfather's grave
indeed, | am not quite sure but it
will be monument-and she has
promised to let you have the work. :"
Il am much obliged signorina, he
said in smothered voice that came
from behind his hand.
He coughed vigorously for several
minutes, and then he managed to say:
''How can | ever repay you for all
your kindness, Signorina Laura? Will
you let me teach you Italian when l
am wellp / should like that"
When Laura proposed this to her
mother. Mrs. Grafton was up in arms,
but Laura had her way, notwithstand-
ing, and the lessons began.
II saw you out in the shed this
morning." said Laura reproachfully,
one day when Stefano had gone against
the doctors orders.
True; but one must liver he an
swered with shrug. .'And there is
your grandfather tombstone
Never mind that. He has waited
eighteen years for it. and he can wait
little longer. You must take care of
yourself, Stefano 1t is not fair to me
for you to overtax yourself"
His face suddenly lighted with JOY.
as it possible that you care, signori-
NAP" he cried eagerly.
IL want to see YOU WELL If you
get sick again. it will throw discredit
on me as nurse. | do wish you
would give up marble-cutting alto
gether."
Lone might if he had some inspira-
ton" he said in low tone. II could
give up anything for you. If | thought